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Thursday, August 26, 2010

The more I read articles about the hostage taker Senor Inspector Rolando Mendoza, the more I am convinced that he was actually a good man who just believed later on that he was maltreated by the government.

Rolando Mendoza

He was formerly one of the Ten Most Outstanding Policemen of the Philippines in 1986. His relatives and friends have nothing against him. And the fact that his youngest son is also a policeman just proves that he has been a good role model to his children. His brother Police Officer Gregorio Mendoza testifies that he has been a good police. Serving the country is in their blood.

However, Rolando Mendoza was dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman in January. This stripped him off with all the benefits he is supposed to get for his service for more than twenty years. Furthermore, he can no longer apply for any government jobs.

This happened after he was charged of being involved in extortion of Christian Kalaw, a Mandarin Hotel Chef.

All I can say is, “sayang”. He is supposed to be a hero but humiliated the beloved Philippines of what he did just before the end of his life. His casket was not even covered by the Philippine flag which is normally done for someone who died of serving the country.

But I still hope that the government will grant the benefits of Rolando Mendoza to his family.

Before I end this short write up, let me give my admiration to the family of Rolando Mendoza. They are humble enough not to defend their beloved of what he did. Saying sorry to the world infront of the camera is definitely not easy.

i just saw this on yahoo news..One of the hostages discuss what happened inside the bus during the hostage crisis... Please read his letter.. Here it is........

iwitness888 on August 25, 2010 at 4:37 pm

QUIRINO BLOODBATH

by Tan Ya on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at 7:16pm

Postcripts Of A BloodBath

Mr. Mendoza was already upset even before he saw on television what the policemen did to his brother. The other tourists who remained inside the bus were complaining. Wei Ji Jiang wanted to go to the bathroom. Dao Chi Yu was hungry and the rest were just groaning and whining like they have forgotten that our lives rest in Mr. Mendoza’s hands.

The hostage taker, as you know him was really nice. He treated us okay and even let the elders and the children leave the bus. He said your policemen treated him unfairly. He was a policeman too and was accused of doing something he had no knowledge of. But your government didn’t listen so he used us to get everyone’s attention.

Things would have never turned for the worst if he didn’t see how his family was dragged out of their house and taken into custody. He was watching the news all the time as we huddled around each other behind the bus. He shouted some words in your language then started shooting in the air. A girl about my age started screaming. Mr. Mendoza demanded her to stop but she didn’t understand English. God, he had to slash her neck with a knife just to put her to rest. Her boyfriend who tried to hit him was shot in the head.

Tension was rising. You can see in his face how scared and confused he was. The bus driver ran away leaving him alone with strangers from a distant land. I can see him walking across the aisle, sometimes pointing his machine gun to one of the tourists. But he tried his best not to hurt us, especially those who really cooperate.

I guess its in your nature not to inflict pain on others unless it was necessary. I remember him saying that he will free us before sundown and implored us to forget everything when we return home. But his words don’t matter now. The policemen were trying to force their way in, while we all lied down to shield ourselves from bullets. Mister Mendoza blindly shoots at his enemies which I think kept them from rescuing us. I hear sobs under the chairs. Some were even shouting the names of their loved ones even when the air merely eat their words. Kevin Tang tried to escape when the glass door was was shattered, but one shot and he slumped on the floor with blood gushing from his mouth.

Heavy rain pitter-pattered on the rooftop. In old Chinese saying, it means an end to a struggle. Finally, somebody was able to open the escape hatch at the back of the bus. Freedom. But I knew Mister Mendoza was still alive. I knew he was just waiting for a chance to strike back at his enemies. So I told those around me not to escape. Let the authorities come for us instead. Then there was gunfire. He was firing at his enemies with a machine gun. Those who were at the escape hatch fled abandoning us once again. It’s like a nightmare with no end and to wake up means a certain death. Then somebody from outside the bus threw a canister. It forced out a black smoke that is so painful to the eyes and putrid smelling to the nose. People started screaming. We cannot breathe. Some ran in front of the bus but Mister Mendoza warned them of stray bullets. It was too late. One was hit on the head, the other was hit on the shoulders. Bullets were now flying. Its like the authorities thought we were all dead. Mister Mendoza finally realizes his mistake and said sorry to everyone, dead or alive. He then ran towards the front of the bus where he would meet his maker. As he passed by my chair with bullets whistling overhead, I clutched my hand on the velvet curtain and wrapped it around my face. All I could think of was to stay alive – for my child who is waiting for me back in Xinjang. I know I will survive,

Mr Mendoza, i feel, was not really a bad man. in the beginning he was really calm and very positive. it was only in the end that he got impatient with our useless authorities unable to think of the best way to pacify a man in that state of mind. they should have employed an experienced officer to negotiate. by the letter of one of the survivors, he was really sorry for what he did in the end. i think we should stop blaming him for the tragedy but really see why he did this to the innocent. it was the "useless system" he honestly served all his life who did this to him and to all the victims. we deserved everything that is happening now. but to the Chinese people, please see past what one man did and consider why this happened. it was not the man, it was the system. Please dont condemn our whole country for the mistake of some ignorant fools who run our country. spare our innocent brothers and sisters there who are just trying to live off as they work for their families. if you hurt them to spite us, then you just do the same as as what they did. what will be the difference. Dont discriminate, dont hate.

Tan Ya's letter caused tears to flow from my eyes as I was reading it. What happened to her and the other victims of the recent hostage-taking was just horrifying. I pray that the victims and their families would find justice... in God's time... and that a tragedy like this one would not happen again... in our country... or in another country.

If a man like him would take hostages just to be reinstated as a policeman, you know he should not be given what he wants. Taking hostages proves that he is not fit for his job. Also, the fact that Mendoza's men abused a suspect by feeding him drugs as torture, means that he failed at his job somewhat. He failed to control his men. I do not hate Mendoza either, but he how he was punished is justified.

If anything, Mendoza represents the failure of Philippine culture and the system as a whole. Bad culture led to badly behaving policemen, and a bad system that let Mendoza running loose, and it turn turn led to a bloodbath because of incompetence.